Clothes-line holder.



Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

H. H. FREEMAN. CLOTHES LINE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1914.

mmesses' fli j cl zigzL 44mm HERBERT H. FREEMAN, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CLOTHES-LINE Homeric.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1915.

Application filed 9.91117, 1914. Serial No. 830,185,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT H. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes- Line Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clothes line holders, and the objects thereof are to provide a device of this kind in which the line may be tightened to any degree of tension; to provide a device in which meansare included for facilitating the threading of the line 1n operative position; and to provide a device in which there is no likelihood of the line becoming caught or distorted because of its variance 1n size, or because of any knots or obstructions which may be formed thereon.

To the accomplishment of the recited objects and others coordinate therewith, the

preferred embodiment of my invention rea pulley rotatably mounted at the other The periphery of extremity of said frame. the eccentric wedge is preferably serrated so that when the line or rope is inserted between it and the cooperative pulley, suflicient tension may be brought to bear upon the said line to hold it tightly in any desired position. The frame is further provided with a pivoted latch element which may be readily opened to receive the line and thereby preclude the tedious threading of the line between the locking members of the device. The medial portions of the frame, considered as an entirety, are flared outwardly so as to accommodate ropes of difierent diameters and eliminate the possibility of knots or other obstructions upon the rope interfering with the proper operation of the device.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main bracket or frame of the rope holder, preferably composed of a flat piece of metal bent upon itself at one extremity to present a loop 2, the opposite members of which lie in substantial parallelism. The end of the loop terminates about midway the length of the opposite side of the frame and at this point is provided a latch, which will be presently described. Pivotally mounted Within the loop is an eccentric wedge member 3 having its periphery serrated as at 4, and at the extreme end of the main bracket or frame there is rotatably mounted a pulley 5. The relation and con struction of the wedge 4 and pulley 5 are such that when the clothes line 6 is placed between them and pulled tightly the latter w ll be subjected to a clamping action which Wlll increase commensurate with the increment of the tension upon the rope.

Ordinarily, in devices of this character, considerable difiiculty is experienced in threading the line between the clamping or looking elements of the device,-and especially is this the case whenthe end of the line has become unraveled. This difliculty is overcome by pivoting a latch member 7 to the same rivet or stud 8 which carries the pulley 5. The inner end of this member is cut away or rabbeted at its bottom,-as at 9, and this portion cooperates with the hooked terminal 10 of the loop having a lower shoulder 11. In preparing to initially insert the line between the eccentric wedge and pulley, the latch 7 is swung upwardly as indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1, while the wedge occupies a pendant position, as shown by dotted lines, whereupon the line may be easily placed between the said members, and the'latch then brought to normal locked position. It will also be noted that the medial portion of the frame 1 and the greater length of the free extremity of the latch 7 are flared outwardly, or are of arcuate contour, as indicated at 12. This construction and arrangement permits a greater freedom of movement of the rope, and at the same time accommodates itself to ropes of various sizes, and allows the line to pass freely over the pulley regardless of any knots or obstructions, without contacting with the side portions of the frame. Furthermore, by employing the latch, a requisite strength and rapidity is rangement of parts the latch acts as a support to the pulley, under tension and hence the strain is divided, enabling me to use lighter material without detriment to efficiency.

It should be understood that in its broader aspect the invention comprehends the employment not only of the various means described, but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions. While the arrangement shown is thought at the present time to be preferable, it is desired to reserve the right to effect such modifications and variations thereof as may come fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 4 1. A clothes line holder comprising a frame, a support carried thereby, a revoluble line guide on saidsupport, a pivotally T mounted line engaging member also carried by the frame, and a swinging latch connected to the support and adapted when in position to cooperate with said frame to sustain the line guide. I

2. A clothes line holder comprising a frame, a support carried thereby, a revoluble line guide on said support, a pivotally mounted line engaging member also carried by the frame, and a swinging latch connected to the support and adapted when in position to cooperate with said frameto sustain the line guide, said frameand latch being outwardly flared to provide an enlarged space for the free passage of knots. In testimony whereof I hereunto signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT H. FREEMAN. Witnesses:

P. C. LONG, SAMUEL MCMILLEN. 

